Sports Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
Sports Posted on Thu, Jan. 24, 2008 Hunting season is never really over
Hunting dogTen things to do to keep you in the hunt
By Keith Schopp
For the News-Democrat
Some of my friends sing the blues this time of year.
"It's OVER," they say as hunting seasons draw to a close.
I thought about this earlier this month as I walked behind Claira, my young German shorthair, on the last weekend of quail season. I was a bit disheartened, too, as the morning failed to produce a bird, and the afternoon was getting cold and windy.
I was thinking about declaring "It's OVER, Claira" when I noticed her standing on point in the corn field. It wasn't quite over yet.
I envisioned a double, of course. Here's the chance to end the season in style -- bang, bang, like they do on TV. I knew the birds were running and probably 10 yards in front of the dog, so I took a few steps and glanced at Claira to make sure she wasn't creeping. The quail seized the moment and began boiling out of the maze of stalks and corn stubble.
I took my time (first mistake), waited for an easy one (second mistake -- they got harder) and picked out a pair of roosters (third mistake) as they angled to my left. For some unknown reason, I pulled the trigger when my shotgun was exactly between the pair and missed cleanly. No problem, one barrel remaining and one chance to make amends. Stick with that little rooster. But wait, there's another big, fat, slow quail going the other way. So I switch birds (fourth mistake), reverse my swing (fifth mistake) and never catch up. Suddenly, gun is empty, birds are gone, season is over.
""No bird," I told Claira. "No bird. Good girl."
Claira forgave me quickly and promptly began hunting again, ignoring the fact that this was the end of her wild quail season in Illinois. It dawned on me that once again, my dog is smarter than me. It's never really OVER. Closing day is just a good excuse to get ready for next fall. And I owe it to Claira, and my other dogs, to get them out in the field as much as possible.
Here are 10 things you should do now that will extend your season and your time outdoors.
Join a dog club
Keeping your retriever or bird dog in the game year round pays big dividends. Too many dogs wind up in the kennel from February through August or September, fat and out of shape with diminished skills.
Organizations such as National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA), North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), United Kennel Club's Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) and lots of others have local chapters.
Another option is to form a training group with three or four friends. You'll keep your dogs sharp and conditioned, work together, and get some exercise yourself. Retriever owners might want to check out Retrievers Unlimited, the area HRC chapter, which has its 20th anniversary spring event April 5-6 at the World Shooting Complex near Sparta. Go to www.retrieversunlimitedhrc.com to learn more.
Practice clay bird shooting
Clay birds will never replace a covey rise, but the more clays you shoot, the better you'll do when Mr. Bob explodes from the tall grass.
Southern Illinois is blessed with first-rate shooting facilities -- from the new World Shooting Complex at Sparta, to the excellent Rend Lake facility, to the famous Nilo Farms, to numerous sportsmen clubs and trap and skeet ranges in the metro area.
Take a boy or girl along and pass it on!
Help wildlife
Freezing temperatures and lack of habitat kill more quail in January than any other month. Consider placing Christmas trees or creating brush piles to provide cover for quail, rabbits and songbirds. Put out a little corn or appropriate feed for squirrels and birds -- especially when snow and freezing rain cover food sources.
Landowners, now is the time to start thinking about food plots and creating nesting cover. Place a few birdhouses, wood duck boxes, or goose nest boxes and make a difference.
Knock on a farmer's door
Remember that farmer who let you hunt last year? Knock on his door again, only this time ask for permission to mend some fence or cut some firewood or help with some chores.
The "off" season is a great time to show your appreciation for the privilege to hunt, so remember to thank the farmers -- the real stewards of the land.
Put your stuff away
A very wise man once told me that at the end of every season, he cleans and repairs all his leaky decoys, fixes strings and weights, and neatly stores everything on shelves. That way, it's ready to use next season!
It seems like every year on opening day I'm trying to unravel a pile of knotted decoys and wind up using a knife. Instead of a knife, use February to get organized for next year.
Support conservation groups
Get involved with your local Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, National Wild Turkey Federation or Quail Forever chapter. These groups are making a collective difference for habitat and wildlife. Attending a banquet during the off-season is a great way to participate and keep the fire burning.
Bird hunters, Quail Club Chapter 766 of Quail Unlimited has its banquet on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Quail Club, 8303 Concordia Road. Tickets are $55 for a couple and $35 for a single, and include membership, dinner, attendance prizes and youth activities. Some nice shotguns are up for raffle. For tickets or information, call Jay Wade at 616-3348 or Wes Barber at 476-7700.
Turkey hunters, there are several banquets coming up, including the 13th Annual Silver and Shoal Creek Strutters event March 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Highland. The event features 15 guns and a Don Bald call. Tickets are $65 for a couple and include a NWTF membership and Women In The Outdoors Memberships. Singles tickets are $45. Contact Joe Cioni, banquet chairman, at 537-2017 or 537-6341.
Take a Road Trip
While Illinois seasons are winding down, there's still opportunity to hunt waterfowl in Arkansas' flooded timber. Or consider one of the many preserves in central and southern Illinois. For a list hunting preserves go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Web site and access the "Game Breeders and Hunting Preserve" listings for Regions 4 and 5.
Try a new recipe
Wild game prepared right is a delicacy. Every week it sits in your freezer, it loses a little zip. Take this time to experiment with some new recipes, or invite friends over for a wild game feed. Why not start on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 3)?
Clean and oil your guns
Rust never sleeps, so take care of your firearms now with a good cleaning and coat of oil. Swab the bore with a good solvent. Grease those choke tubes so you don't wind up with a fixed choke after all. If your gun is so dirty or the cleaning is beyond your capabilities, consult a gunsmith.
Remember to safely store all firearms, and treat every gun as if it's loaded. Every year people get shot cleaning loaded guns.
Read a good book
If you're a dog lover, read "Jenny Willow," a novel by Mike Gaddis. Trust me, you won't want to put it down.
By the way, I've already forgotten missing that double on quail. And I can't wait until next fall. Neither can Claira.